IN THIS ISSUE

This week’s magazine really brings home one of the reasons I love editing YOU – that people’s true stories are just as fascinating as anything Hollywood can dream up. Case in point: the YouTube star Patricia Bright. Now, I can’t be alone in finding my teenage daughter’s obsessions with various YouTube ‘sensations’ hard to bear. The appeal is a mystery to me, but perhaps to anyone over 20 it is supposed to be. I observe an endless supply of young faces cultivating millions of subscribers to their channels for millions of views of the same material, over and over again. I’m sure it’s a universe in which all manner of diverse interests are catered for. But for my daughter, the popular categories are a rigid roll call of make-up tutorials, childish practical jokers and – by far the worst – people filming themselves doing mundane things like going to buy groceries. (I assume those of you who haven’t been forced to watch hours of this stuff will think I’m making it up. I’m not.)

So I have to hold my hands up: when beauty YouTuber Patricia Bright’s name came up in a meeting, I figured this was just the story of another pretty girl making a fortune from reviewing her favourite mascaras in her bedroom. I was wrong. I’m glad I took the time to read Patricia’s story, on page 32, because I’ve been blown away by it. The lessons from a childhood spent living on a shoestring and watching her mother struggle to keep the family fed and housed has instilled in Patricia a formidable initiative and work ethic and made her a deserved success, with millions of social media followers. It’s a deeply inspiring read, which for me has been a stark reminder that most people are full of stories that would surprise you. Similarly, there’s our feature on page 38 about Imran Amed, the man behind the fashion industry bible The

Business of Fashion. A layperson would never guess that this diminutive, unassuming man has risen to become arguably the most influential figure in fashion.

Speaking of fashion, at YOU magazine we are passionate about making it for everyone, which is why I love our contributing editor Trinny Woodall’s take: ‘It’s just about learning how to wear the latest styles on your body and having the confidence to try something new.’ There’s plenty to be inspired by in her twinning special with her size 16 Instagram partner-in-crime Chloé Dall’Olio on page 14.

Enjoy the issue.

PEOPLE’S TRUE STORIES ARE JUST AS FASCINATING AS ANYTHING HOLLYWOOD CAN DREAM UP ’